Vision
"Nur AlMadaad" draws its essence from "Siyer-i Nebi," one of the most significant illustrated manuscripts in Ottoman Islamic art, where visual storytelling and spiritual documentation come together to narrate the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. These manuscripts were not merely historical records; they were sacred visual mediums, transmitting the light of the message through ink, color, and ornamentation.
In my project, I seek to revive this visual heritage, not by mere imitation but through a contemporary reinterpretation, where "AlMadaad" (the ink) becomes a symbol of light and knowledge flowing through time. Here, light transforms into color, words into form, and spirit into a visual composition, creating an extended temporal experience that bridges past and present.
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Inspiration
"Siyer-i Nebi" and Contemporary Engagement
The miniatures of "Siyer-i Nebi" serve as a point of departure for understanding how prophetic events were depicted through spiritual abstraction and visual s20ymbolism. Islamic manuscripts adopted an artistic approach that merged sanctity with beauty, where figures were illuminated with golden halos, and scenes were crafted with vibrant colors and precise geometric compositions.
In my work, I recontextualize these elements through a contemporary lens, integrating abstraction, layered compositions, and dynamic interactions between material and color. The paintings do not simply reference narrative imagery but strive to create sensory spaces—meditative visual experiences where figures blend into ornamentation, and color becomes a medium for evoking spiritual time rather than historical documentation.
Techniques and Artistic Style
The works employ multiple techniques inspired by the richness of Islamic manuscripts, incorporating:
 
Flat color planes and intricate decorative compositions influenced by Ottoman miniature paintings.
Gold as a visual and spiritual element, reflecting the concept of "Prophetic Light" (Al-Nur Al-Muhammadi) as described in Sufi and Islamic traditions.
Visual voids and absence: Islamic manuscripts often portrayed blank or veiled faces as an act of reverence—a technique I adopt through unfinished spaces and symbolic indicators rather than direct representation.
Geometric repetition as a symbol of spiritual expansion, where the artistic composition becomes a recurring structure, echoing the inner rhythm of Dhikr (remembrance) and Sufi contemplation.